Ruling device



edges of the flanges so that the carriage when at Wethersfield, in the county of Hartford and UNITE STATES PATENT OEEicE.

KATHERINE M. HURLBURT, OF IVETHERSFIELD, CONNECTICUT.

RULING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,907, dated December 5, 1893.

Application filed February 4, 1893. Serial No. 461,000. (No model.)

To aZl whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KATHERINE M. HURL- BURT, a citizen of the United States, residing State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ruling Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

The invention relates to the class of devices more particularly adapted for use in school or class rooms for ruling lines on slates, paperpads and the like, for writing and other purposes, and the object is to provide a simple, cheap and portable device into which slates or pads of dilferent sizes may be readily placed and quickly ruled with parallel lines at equal or varying distances apart.

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is a plan of the device. Fig. 2 is a view of one end. Fig. 3 is a view of the opposite end; and Fig. 4 is a side view of the sliding marker and its carriage.

In the views 1 indicates a base which is usually an open frame, preferably formed of cast iron, but of course it may be made of wood or any other convenient material. On the ends of this base, usually formed integral therewith, are upright flanges, 2, the edges of which are serrated or provided with ratchet teeth. It is preferred that the ratchet teeth on the opposite flanges be cut in opposite directions and of different lengths, that is, those on one side being longer than those on the other, and, of course, there may be teeth of different lengths on the same side, as shown on the left edge of the plan view. Loosely supported on these flanges so as to move from one side of the base to the other is a carriage consisting of end pieces, 3, and a connecting bar, 4, that has a handle, 5, by means of which the carriage can be conveniently moved. The bottom faces of both end pieces are grooved so as to fit the flanges and remain upon them when the carriage is n1oved,and one of these end pieces bears a spring catch or pawl, 6, adapted to engage the ratchet teeth on the moved will travel a specified distance. The

bar, 4, has a horizontal mortise, 7, and in this is a sliding stud or pivot to which a marker 8 is pivoted. This marker preferably consists of a blade with a sharpened end and a handle by means of which it can be drawn from one end of the mortise to the other in order to groove the slate or otherarticle placed beneath it, but of course the end of this blade may be, if desired, fitted to hold a lead, pen or crayon. On one side of the base a ledge, 9, is formed, and held in the groove, 10, opposite this ledge is aslide, 11, that may be moved along the groove andheld in any position by means of the set screw, 12. This slide has spring arms and the slate, pad or other article to be ruled or marked is placed between and held by the ledge, 9, and the spring arms of this adjustable slide. When the slate is thus held the carriage is moved so as to start near one edge of the slate and when in this position the blade is drawn across the slate so that its point makes a mark on the surface. The carriage is then advanced the distance of one tooth and the blade again drawn across the surface of the plate. This is continued until the desired number of lines are marked, after each line, of course, the carriage being advanced just one tooth of the ratchet so that the lines are an equal distance apart.

The carriage is loosely set upon the top of the flanges so that if the teeth on one side are not the correct distance to rule the lines with the desired spaces the carriage may be turned end to end so the pawl will work along the teeth on the opposite edge of the base. By having the teeth of different lengths on the different sides the lines may be ruled at different distances apart or they may be ruled with wide and narrow spaces as desired, all of them, of course, being parallel.

A slate, pad or any other article of any size within the range of adjustment of the device may be quickly placed in the frame, the slide with the spring arms being first approximately adjusted, and the marker easily moved across and the carriage advanced to give the desired ruling. If necessary to give cross ruling the article can be turned the other end around and the same process continued.

The device is simple, cheap, readily adj ustable and convenient for use, occupying but little space and working efficiently. The lines are smoothly and evenly cut, and can be reruled with accuracy when desired.

I claimas my invention.

1. A ruling device consisting of a basewith arms for grasping the article to be ruled, a carriage moving across the base and supporting the movable marker, said carriage having' a pawl adapted to engage teeth on the base to determine the distance of movement arms for grasping the article to be ruled, a

carriage movin g across the-base, said carriage having a pawl adapted to engage teeth on the base todetermine the distance of movement of the carriage, and a marker held to the carriage by a sliding pivot, substantially as specified.

4. A ruling device consisting of a base with upturned flanges at its ends and arms for grasping the article to be ruled, a carriage consisting of end pieces moving on the flanges and a connecting bar joining the end pieces, a marker held to the carriage by means of a sliding pivot, and a pawl attached to one of the end pieces of the carriage, substantially as specified.

KATHERINE M. HURLBURT.

Witnesses:

JAMES M. BIGELOW, RICHARD G. KILAUFF. 

